I think you have it nailed. My first impression is that with my Carvin SB4000 w/chromes, the TB153 really brings the tonal quality through very clearly.
This is day 3 with mine, and I'm very, very impressed.
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Avatar 3 way 15/6/tweet part 2
- Thread starter john turner
- Start date
I think you have it nailed. My first impression is that with my Carvin SB4000 w/chromes, the TB153 really brings the tonal quality through very clearly.
This is day 3 with mine, and I'm very, very impressed.
I use it with a Streamliner 900 amp and a Fender Jazz V with the new Fender flats (a little growlier than the Chromes). It is a great sounding setup.
My Jazz with TI Flats and pickups wired in series sounds absolutely thunderous through this cab with the crown amp. The only time in my life I have literally vibrated an amp across the floor.
as compared to what another TBer told me his TB153 cab experience was, my issue does not seem at all as bad as his was. Thinking back, maybe the distort/harshness I heard those couple times was just from that Foster tweeter in my cab. I recall a somewhat similar issue with my previously owned, SWR Goliath III, which also had the Foster tweeter, IIRC.
Still just speculatiing here. But my cab seems far more useable than what the issue fellow TBer described in his PM to me this evening. I have none of the "no lows" "no volume" issues. There may be nothing wrong with my cab other than it meeting its limits of the internal part(s).
Again, still in the process of working this out with Avatar so no conclusion yet; just thinking out loud. If I can do anything to improve the performance of my cab; it will then be a way more awesome cab than it currently is.
Still just speculatiing here. But my cab seems far more useable than what the issue fellow TBer described in his PM to me this evening. I have none of the "no lows" "no volume" issues. There may be nothing wrong with my cab other than it meeting its limits of the internal part(s).
Again, still in the process of working this out with Avatar so no conclusion yet; just thinking out loud. If I can do anything to improve the performance of my cab; it will then be a way more awesome cab than it currently is.
I don't want to be a "Debbie Downer", but a fEARful 15/6 (etc) would solve all your guys' problems. Yes, they are a couple hundred more and not a simple as clicking 'buy it now' but honestly they are so worth it.
considering I have 8 bass cabs now 
spit: wifes' take ) TB153is not the only cab I have to rely on. Its just another flavor I wanted to savor, so I can live with some limitations if need be. So I just clicked and bought it. 
I know my TB153 has worked great at a couple small/med size clubs I've used it at. Its done so with a very unique voice compared to my other cabs that make me dig it. And its pretty exclusive to my STM-900 w/P5 w/flats.
Now for my outdoor gigs/very large clubs, those gigs are usually with the large variety bands that require the voicing of my modern, active 5ers and UL410 cabs and different amp heads. In that case I may require two cabs and my more powerful pre/power amp setup. I get no PA support in 4-5 different bands I gig with. So I've always kept the extra gear on hand to fit my needs, as in basses, cabs, amps.
Not sure even the all mighty nFearful could do what I need as a stand alone cab in some of those instances. Though I may still snag one later to see first hand. So, it is what it is, I've got gear that can handle all my needs so I'm cool.
I've got backups for the backups. So far this is just a minor glitch overall, just fun to experience different gear of different brands and styles. 
Its a journey I stay on.
spit: wifes' take ) TB153is not the only cab I have to rely on. Its just another flavor I wanted to savor, so I can live with some limitations if need be. So I just clicked and bought it. I know my TB153 has worked great at a couple small/med size clubs I've used it at. Its done so with a very unique voice compared to my other cabs that make me dig it. And its pretty exclusive to my STM-900 w/P5 w/flats.
Now for my outdoor gigs/very large clubs, those gigs are usually with the large variety bands that require the voicing of my modern, active 5ers and UL410 cabs and different amp heads. In that case I may require two cabs and my more powerful pre/power amp setup. I get no PA support in 4-5 different bands I gig with. So I've always kept the extra gear on hand to fit my needs, as in basses, cabs, amps.
Not sure even the all mighty nFearful could do what I need as a stand alone cab in some of those instances. Though I may still snag one later to see first hand. So, it is what it is, I've got gear that can handle all my needs so I'm cool.
I've got backups for the backups. So far this is just a minor glitch overall, just fun to experience different gear of different brands and styles. Its a journey I stay on.
was practicing some tunes at home to refresh for gigs this weekend. I decided to try my GB Neopak w/TB153 this afternoon. WOW, pretty nice pairing. The Neopak sounds similar to my STM-900 but not as broad.
Pretty good as the room I will be in Saturday nite can get boomy. I will be using one of my active 5ers for this "new country/classic rock" gig. The Neopak packs a tighter punch than the STM-900, I tried them back to back today. I can really hear very similar tones in these two GB heads but felt I could control the big lows easier with the Neopak.
The TB cab sounds fine today, now I was not pushing it real hard at home but I did get a good window rattling volume towards the end of my 2 hour practice. I'll see how this setup works at my gig. Of course I'll have the 900 as backup but glad I can get the Neopak back into action again. Its' been sitting home alone lately.
Pretty good as the room I will be in Saturday nite can get boomy. I will be using one of my active 5ers for this "new country/classic rock" gig. The Neopak packs a tighter punch than the STM-900, I tried them back to back today. I can really hear very similar tones in these two GB heads but felt I could control the big lows easier with the Neopak.
The TB cab sounds fine today, now I was not pushing it real hard at home but I did get a good window rattling volume towards the end of my 2 hour practice. I'll see how this setup works at my gig. Of course I'll have the 900 as backup but glad I can get the Neopak back into action again. Its' been sitting home alone lately.
Got my new x-over from Avatar yesterday and got it installed this morning. Seems to be a huge improvement though I hesitate to say till I get it in the band mix tonight. It's has lows again and highs again, gets really loud and still sounds clear. That sound pressure that it used to have that kind of hurts my ears is back.
I had it LOUD out in the garage and though some say the mid driver is under spec'd it had zero perceivable distortion nor did it sound like it was being pushed to the limit. I never thought that was the perceived distortion was coming from there anyway but I can understand why some would.
Gotta say the guys at Avatar have been very cool about taking care of this. Hats off to Dave and Trevor for their service!
Here's some pics of the new and the old x-over. Took about 45mins to an hour to change out but that was taking my time and stopping to clean up a a cup of coffee I spilled on the living room carpet. Had to run three new holes and trim some of the insulation inside but overall, pretty straight forward.
Lastly I want to say that just because you have an older x-over doesn't mean it's bad. I don't think all of them were affected, but if you are having some strange issues I would give them a call and see whats up.
I had it LOUD out in the garage and though some say the mid driver is under spec'd it had zero perceivable distortion nor did it sound like it was being pushed to the limit. I never thought that was the perceived distortion was coming from there anyway but I can understand why some would.
Gotta say the guys at Avatar have been very cool about taking care of this. Hats off to Dave and Trevor for their service!
Here's some pics of the new and the old x-over. Took about 45mins to an hour to change out but that was taking my time and stopping to clean up a a cup of coffee I spilled on the living room carpet. Had to run three new holes and trim some of the insulation inside but overall, pretty straight forward.
Lastly I want to say that just because you have an older x-over doesn't mean it's bad. I don't think all of them were affected, but if you are having some strange issues I would give them a call and see whats up.
The guy I bought my TB153 from had two of them. On each the back plate was oriented differently, one was short side up and the other was long side up. I wonder if that indicates a different crossover. He got his cabs at different times.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
That looks like a step in the right direction. Anyone who's worried, could still beef things up a bit.
For a comparison, here's a picture of a stock Eminence PXB2-800 in comparison with the crossover components that I replaced it with at a later date...its pretty easy to see which would take more juice without complaint.
Invalid Link Removed
For a comparison, here's a picture of a stock Eminence PXB2-800 in comparison with the crossover components that I replaced it with at a later date...its pretty easy to see which would take more juice without complaint.
Invalid Link Removed
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
I don't think a speaker cabinet should be vibrating like that.
You are correct, sir.
Ah... just like the "Electronic Football" game I had in the 1970's
Tweak the feet a bit so that you can get it to go in circles and you can put on quite the stage show.
I ran into the same crossover issue and was only getting really ganky high-mids. Talked to Trever and a new one is on the way. I can't wait to get the new one in a get the experience back when I first played it.
Every dealing that I've ever had with Avatar has been awesome.
Every dealing that I've ever had with Avatar has been awesome.
That would be so cool to mount a cardboard football player figure to the cab and have it move around like that!
I had a cab once that used to move around at very high volumes. Once it was very close to falling right off the back of the stage... infront of 500 people. Lucky the song ended just in time.
A guitarist friend of mine use to have a Portafelx in his kitchen in this older farm house with with a slightly crooked linoleum floor. When you cranked it up the floor in that old house would vibrate so badly the amp would go from one side of the kitchen to the other. Very entertaining when your up late and drinking....
When I sent the 153 I had back to Avatar, they changed several things simultaneously, so I cannot be 100% sure what was causing the "gank", but in light of subsequent xover problems, I'm guessing mine was a bad xover as well. I pounded it with an M9 and it sounded glorious-I must have blown the xover. Sounds like they ought to beef up that weak link in the chain. Great sounding cab IME.
